Is Tejashwi Yadav Right to Criticize Bihar's Health Minister Over Rat-Bite Incident?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tejashwi Yadav critiques the Bihar Health Minister for healthcare failures.
- Rat bite incident highlights systemic healthcare issues.
- Public debate proposed to discuss healthcare governance.
- Bihar faces increasing scrutiny over hospital conditions.
- Calls for accountability in the healthcare system are growing.
Patna, May 21 (NationPress) Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition and a prominent figure in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has launched a fierce critique against Mangal Pandey, Bihar's Health Minister. This comes in light of a distressing incident at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, where a patient suffered rat bites on his hand after surgery, highlighting the alarming state of healthcare in Bihar.
Tejashwi expressed his outrage, urging Pandey to a public debate regarding the healthcare crisis in Bihar. “Just set up the stage and microphone, notify me a day prior, and I’ll come to unveil the truth about the lack of progress,” he stated in a media briefing in Patna on Wednesday.
The RJD leader accused the Health Minister of being entirely out of touch with the realities of the healthcare system. “He never visits hospitals for inspections. During my tenure as Deputy Chief Minister, we initiated Mission 60 days, conducted checks, and took action against over 700 negligent doctors,” Yadav emphasized.
He pointed out the dire conditions in medical colleges located in Muzaffarpur, Madhepura, and Purnea, asserting that these reflect the complete collapse of governance within the health sector.
“Hospital beds are being sold by mafias, while the health minister remains oblivious,” he remarked.
Tejashwi also directed his criticism towards Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, labeling him as detached and ineffective. “He is in a state of unconsciousness. His officials occasionally take him to inspect construction sites in Patna, but he seems unaware of pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, law and order, or the failing health system,” Yadav stated.
The incident involving Awadesh Prasad, a disabled individual from Nalanda who was admitted to NMCH and fell prey to rat bites post-surgery, has ignited widespread anger and renewed scrutiny on Bihar's public hospitals.